How would you feel?

What else is new? The Bureau of Fisheries and Aquatic Resources advised Filipino fishermen to avoid the area around Panatag Shoal, and instead stay within our municipal waters. This is confirmation that the needs, concerns and complaints of our fishermen are secondary to the conditions China has practically set in the seas. This is also validation that Chinese ships do harass our fishermen. The Chinese ambassador also “reminded” Filipino fishermen of certain limits in the disputed seas. Fishermen are supposedly free to fish, but should know the limits, particularly when approaching Chinacontrolled areas. Obviously, that includes Panatag Shoal. That's saying we should be thankful they allowed us to fish in what is supposedly our area.

So in essence, we should not abuse their kindness. But therein lies the problem. They allow our fishermen to fish in an area already congested with fishermen. Their daily catch has shrunk to unacceptable proportions, causing them to venture further out into the ocean, where they are met by the Chinese boats, militia, Coast Guard --call they what you want. Their daily bounties could be better if they can fish in and around Panatag Shoal which by the way, is within the country's Exclusive Economic Zone. Something China refuses to accept or honor.

How would you feel, if your own government will not defend you, because it is, let's say it, scared of offending China, even in the smallest way? That a government agency would even tell our fishermen to stay within an area already crowded with the same. We brought a case to the UN for arbitration, which we won. A victory by any measure. But not if the current president will have his way. His personal way. Never mind if majority of Filipinos are neutral in trusting China. Even the enforcement of our EEZ cannot be done, because it has practically been handed over to the Chinese. We can even be told by a Chinese official to know our place. An official who feels so entitled in the country. And why not? He even supposedly sleeps at the home of one of President Duterte's economic advisers, who was tagged by a disgraced police officer as being involved in illegal drugs. To be told that way seems to be a new low for this administration, at least in the eyes of fishermen.

In another issue, there is a growing number of Chinese workers in the country, probably even illegal workers. How they got in is anyone's guess, keeping in mind this administration's pivot to everything Chinese. This has prompted Chinese Ambassador Zhao Jinhua to remind authorities that these illegal workers should be treated “professionally,” with the caveat that their government will do the same to illegal Filipino workers in China. And the hits just keep on coming.